The Sabres will open their four-game exhibition schedule in Pittsburgh on Monday
The Buffalo Sabres will practice at Key Bank Center early Monday morning, before heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins at the PPG Paints Arena on Monday night. It is expected that the roster for the exhibition debut will closely resemble one of the groups that took part in the Blue and Gold scrimmage on Saturday, but with a preseason schedule of four games, the Sabres and many other NHL clubs appear to be focusing more on generating familiarity with players that they’ve already decided will make their 23-man roster and less on players battling to make the club.
The Sabres will be at a slight disadvantage because of their three-headed monster between the pipes, as carrying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis will allow them to retain one fewer blueliner or forward. Where the club will carry less than the normal amount will be on defense, as it is probable that head coach Lindy Ruff will opt to go with seven defensemen, with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, Olin Zellweger, Louis Crevier, Conor Timmins, and Zach Metsa.
Other Sabres Stories
The group of youngsters, headed by 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, as waiver-exempt and will begin the season in Rochester, while veterans like former first rounder Ryan Johnson and Buffalo native Dennis Gilbert will have to clear waivers to be sent down to the AHL Amerks.
Up front, the sports hernia injury to veteran Jason Zucker will likely have the winger starting the season on injured reserve. The only possible roster quandary may involve forward Jiri Kulich, who has not played an NHL game in 10 months. The 22-year-old still is waiver exempt and could be sent down to Rochester to ramp up after such a long layoff, although his placement on the fourth line might indicate that Ruff will ramp him up by playing decreased minutes with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn.
If the Sabres decide to send him down, that could mean that Ruff will decide to keep non-exempt Tyson Kozak, or veteran Conor Sheary as the 13th forward, while Kulich gets more top line opportunity to start the campaign.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
THN.com/Free